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Advice on a 24" Breaker

which is worth the $

  • Snap On

    Votes: 45 86.5%

  • Mac

    Votes: 3 5.8%

  • Matco

    Votes: 4 7.7%
  • Total voters
    52
S

Southernsorrow

Active member
Joined
Mar 12, 2014
Messages
40
Time for a new 24" 1/2 breaker Bar. There are no trucks around me so I'm ordering off the net direct from the manufacturer. I'm looking at these 3:

Snap-on SN24C which comes to $127 shipped , no tax

Mac V24SF $121 shipped including tax

Matco C24FH comes in the most expensive at $134 shipped


All 3 are the newer style bar over head and with a screw instead of a pin "which I prefer incase head needs to be tightened up", not the older style with head over bar.


Never tried Snap-on or Matco breaker bars, I have some of their ratchets though.

I have tried and own Mac breakers, I own an old style 18" 1/2 drive breaker and 12" 3/8 breaker. Broke the macs once each but they sent me replacement parts no problems.
_________________________________________________

Before anyone mentions checking Ebay,
I've bought MANY tools off there before with no problems, but in the last 2 weeks I got F-ed twice on breaker bars :mad:.

I Won a Mac v24sf new in bag for $59 shipped on a 10 day auction, seller suddenly decides oops that item wasn't in stock, canceled sale 4 days later and refunded money. The week before I won a Snap-on new for $70 shipped seller claims was listed by wife without permission so canceled that sale... both times ebay of course did nothing about it so I give The F up on ebay atm.
 
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6

619DioFan

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Joined
Apr 9, 2013
Messages
3,617
Location
San Diego , Ca.
OK , someone has to say it... how 'bout the new HF pittsburg pro breaker bar. pretty nice and about 20.00. lifetime warranty.
 
J

jeremy v

Banned
Joined
Jul 26, 2011
Messages
784
I would say go with the Pittsburgh Pro if you will never be using it to its' limits, but between the three given by the OP I would get the Snap-on just because it will have better long term resale value, and they are the most likely of the three options to still be here in 20 years to handle warranty service.
 
OP
S

Southernsorrow

Active member
Joined
Mar 12, 2014
Messages
40
I mostly use my 24" breakers for pulling off blades on the riding mowers and tractor mower decks. so 65-150ft lb. but also use them on automotive aswell.

everybody claims to have good luck with the hf but I broke 2 of them a few years ago, "twisted the heads right off" on less than 150lbs.. I don't know if they were this new model you are talking about, but replacement #3 has been sitting in my murano trunk with a 21mm socket for changing tires if I get a flat. MY craftsman "old model" just broke today, granted I was using 2+ft of pipe and jumping on it but after using a torch the hub nut "supossedly on at 80lbs" on my polaris refused to friggin come off some idiot at the factory probably put it on there at 300+ and forgot to put anti-seize on it.... I had to run to auto zone and borrow an impact wrench and a 3/4 breaker.

All my tools have been overtime swapped over to Snap, Mac and Matco since I like certain things from each I'm not really a big fanboy of just 1 brand... also have hazet, gedore , knipex and a few others.
 
OP
S

Southernsorrow

Active member
Joined
Mar 12, 2014
Messages
40
might get snap-on and a hf/pittsburg just to try it.... be a shame to cheater pipe a nice shiney snappy
 
S

shockwave

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 23, 2012
Messages
2,125
Location
Marietta,ga
have you looked into the new 36 inch breaker bars fro snap on they are nice and reasonable used at close to your price range
 
OP
S

Southernsorrow

Active member
Joined
Mar 12, 2014
Messages
40
next item on the list: a 30" 3/4 breaker and an air powered impact that goes higher than my whimpy cordless bosch 150lb.. the auto zone lend a tool was an Armstrong 3/4 breaker.
 
OP
S

Southernsorrow

Active member
Joined
Mar 12, 2014
Messages
40
how flexible is a 1/2 36inch long one though? I'm reading a few post on the GJ right now saying how flexible the 24" is..
 
OP
S

Southernsorrow

Active member
Joined
Mar 12, 2014
Messages
40
Sn36 seems to use the older Head over bar design, wonder why they are going back to that again pic:
s-l1600.jpg
 
J

jeremy v

Banned
Joined
Jul 26, 2011
Messages
784
Probably just so they could use the pinned in replaceable square drive end. Cheaper to make the warranty replacement piece if the drive end shears.
 
OP
S

Southernsorrow

Active member
Joined
Mar 12, 2014
Messages
40
Still trying to figure out a way to explain away a cc charge of around $120 without being murdered dunno how I'd get away with $170. Been buying alot of tools lately :(. Guess I could always show off the ********* and blue mark on my *** and say I need a better tool for medical/safety reasons? but on the other hand if that backfires I'm already pretty sore back there
 
I

ItsNemo

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Joined
Mar 5, 2016
Messages
4,806
Location
Canada
Why not try something mid priced?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001M0O1GG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I've had great luck with their ratchets, I'd rather buy 3 of these than 1 snap on. I can't believe how many people break 1/2" breaker bars...they must be using big cheaters or something. Hence I don't see the point in spending huge money on snap on if you aren't using it professionally and have a truck/dealer to use for warranty.
 
9

90zcar

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 8, 2013
Messages
3,254
Why a breaker bar? Why not just get the snap on 24" 1/2" drive ratchet?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
OP
S

Southernsorrow

Active member
Joined
Mar 12, 2014
Messages
40
I was actually looking at sk earlier... only thing I didn't like was there is no screw to add tension if the head/drive gets loose. Probably stronger with pin but my old bars with pins are a pita now with loose heads. Not too bad though at $75-80~
 
OP
S

Southernsorrow

Active member
Joined
Mar 12, 2014
Messages
40
I got my shl80a for my birthday last year :) .. I actually use it most of the time but some times it's better to just pull out a breaker if I know something is going to be a pita to break loose.
 
OP
S

Southernsorrow

Active member
Joined
Mar 12, 2014
Messages
40
sorry for slow replies, our power is out "along with internet" for 3 cities wide so I'm running off a generator and hitting the forum on my phone which for some reason is only getting super slow 3g instead of lte.
 
P

paulsomlo

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 16, 2013
Messages
3,907
Location
Northern Colorado
If you're not averse to buying used, try ebay - I just bought an 18" breaker bar and there was a quasi endless selection, pages of breaker bars, including some 24".
 
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F

Finky198

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Joined
Feb 25, 2014
Messages
2,120
Location
North East
The SN36 is a super nice bar but its very long and sometimes to big. I have 2 of em...

but at the same time it might be good to just get a HF bar and then a Snappy 36 in the future if you ever need something bigger....
 
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B

bobcatdan

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Jan 4, 2011
Messages
9,948
Location
Kaukauna,WI
I'm sure the mac bar is fine, but never used one so I don't know. The newer matco bars are very strong, but with everything going on, I wonder about them changing suppliers. It honestly wouldn't surprise me if matco goes all imports. So while I like match breaker bar, with the uncertainty of matco currently, I vote SO.
 
9

90zcar

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Nov 8, 2013
Messages
3,254
Southernsorrow said:
I got my shl80a for my birthday last year :) .. I actually use it most of the time but some times it's better to just pull out a breaker if I know something is going to be a pita to break loose.
Click to expand...


I don't get it then? Just keep that and call it a day.
Seriously I have even put a pipe on the end of my so 24" ratchet to break something loose.
I do have an old 18" companion(which is an old Sears brand of I recall) that I have put probably 4' of pipe on it. That lays in my box but it pretty much collects dust anymore


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
K

Keelhauled

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 17, 2015
Messages
56
Southernsorrow said:
might get snap-on and a hf/pittsburg just to try it.... be a shame to cheater pipe a nice shiney snappy
Click to expand...

If you're only gonna use the snap-on for the easy jobs and break out the HF anytime you actually need to use force on something...then what's the point of spending money on the snap-on in the first place, just buy the HF, save a hundred bucks and call it a day. Way I see it, the point of spending money on good tools is to get something you trust to be able to stand up to any use you have for it.
 
M

maxpower_hd

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Joined
Apr 17, 2015
Messages
2,230
Location
Massachusetts
I voted Snap On for both the 24 and 36. Only because that is what I have. They are over 25 years old and have had pipes on both of them many times. They do flex but I have never broken one. When you need to go to those extremes you don't want it to break. Mine haven't.
 
G

gdocktor3

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Joined
Apr 18, 2015
Messages
5,419
Location
Connecticut
I was At HF a few weeks ago looking at the 1/2" breaker bars. Guy walks in and comes right over to them as I'm there. In his hand is the comfort grip version and one of the arms/tabs? was cracked. This was the third he had to replace. The guy was a no nonsense type guy and when I asked if he abused it, was very adamant about never doing so. He actually only used it to change tires. Then on the other hand, that guy made a video while using the non comfort grip style with a pipe and it took it like boss. Either way, I'll never buy one. I'll buy a used USA one.

On another note, I'm glad to see Mac finally got a vote!
 
B

bcradio

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 30, 2012
Messages
6,017
Location
New Mexico
gdocktor3 said:
I was At HF a few weeks ago looking at the 1/2" breaker bars. Guy walks in and comes right over to them as I'm there. In his hand is the comfort grip version and one of the arms/tabs? was cracked. This was the third he had to replace. The guy was a no nonsense type guy and when I asked if he abused it, was very adamant about never doing so. He actually only used it to change tires. Then on the other hand, that guy made a video while using the non comfort grip style with a pipe and it took it like boss. Either way, I'll never buy one. I'll buy a used USA one.

On another note, I'm glad to see Mac finally got a vote!
Click to expand...

Sounds good. And I'll just stick with the non comfort grip ones which are tried and true.

In OPs case, I'd get the HF non comfort grip and a Tekton 40" 3/4 drive breaker and be out only $60. That will meet all your needs right there.
 
O

oldldh

Well-known member
Joined
May 22, 2012
Messages
3,700
Location
Fairhope, AL
I have one of these...

Tekton's 24" 1/2 inch drive ratchet...

Being old, lazy, and poor...

I had to find a suitable substitute for a good 1/2" drive breaker bar...

Amazon has them under Tekton #15013 for $35.99...

My first use was removal of the blade on my Husky lawnmower...Tried it first with a short 3/8" drive ratchet, no joy...Got the big mammer, jammer out, and it just about turned itself...

If you were to break one of these...Take a photo of the carnage, email it to Tekton, and they'll FedEx you a replacement...Now that's what this old man calls a "Good Guarantee and Warranty"!!!

I know it's from Taiwan...And you want SnapOn quality...But...

It works, they have unbeatable customer service, and the price is, definitely right!!!
 

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davethorik

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Joined
Sep 14, 2013
Messages
4,992
Location
Norka, Ohio
I voted Mac. I have a V24SF I bought used off ebay for cheap. It has a screw holding the drive, which I like.
 
J

jd_1138

Well-known member
Joined
May 8, 2013
Messages
17,069
Location
NE Ohio
619DioFan said:
OK , someone has to say it... how 'bout the new HF pittsburg pro breaker bar. pretty nice and about 20.00. lifetime warranty.
Click to expand...

I thought someone posted a story about those snapping? I have the regular non-pro version and never had a problem with them breaking. I keep them in all our cars, and they're only $11 each.
 
OP
S

Southernsorrow

Active member
Joined
Mar 12, 2014
Messages
40
davethorik said:
I voted Mac. I have a V24SF I bought used off ebay for cheap. It has a screw holding the drive, which I like.
Click to expand...

Well ****...I was set on Snap-On. But I guess I'm going MAC...

The one I got off Ebay for $44 new/sealed+ ship just showed up..:headscrat. I guess they were NOT bs'ing' me about it not being in stock.... the UPS label says it was mailed 2 days BEFORE I paypaled them... Now I have to contact the place and send them back the money they refunded me when they canceled the sale and apologize for alot of po'd words thrown their way.

In my defense I did just get screwed out of a snap-on bar prior to buying the MAC on ebay so I thought I got screwed again.

Ebay: LINK
 
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